When
Lindsey Jones started at Western several years ago, she knew it was
the premier place to study music performance. What she didn’t know
as a bright-eyed freshman was that plans were in the works for a
state-of-the-art
School
of Visual and
Performing Arts building on the university’s Westside campus.

“It will be fantastic to have a beautiful
auditorium and space,” Jones said. “Having it tailored to the needs
of the music students for practice and performance will only enhance
our education and experience at Western. You can’t build a great
faculty — and that’s what really matters.”

Completion of the building is scheduled for
2014, long after the 20-year-old
Newtown
resident anticipates her graduation, but Jones said that she plans
on returning to watch performances or to perform. She will be
performing on her violin at the Oct. 17 groundbreaking ceremony for
the SVPACenter.

A music performance major with focus on
classical violin, Jones is the recipient of the Behrens Music
Scholarship, given by New Fairfield residents Rudy and Mary Behrens.
Jones said the scholarship has meant much to her in terms of
recognition; she is honored to see the Behrenses in the audiences at
many of her performances.

Jones, who is expected to graduate in May 2012,
is already benefiting from her experience at Western. She teaches
violin and viola to 25 students — ages 5 to adult. The full-time
student also fiddles with a local country band and plays in a
quartet. She began studying violin with Professor of Music Eric
Lewis as a high school student and worked with his wife, violinist
Katherine Dorn, prior to that. The musical duo helped make Jones’
decision to attend Western an easy one and one that Jones doesn’t
regret.

“After graduation, I’ll definitely be coming
back to Western in some capacity,” Jones said. “I love the
experience I’ve had here and wouldn’t change anything.”